Douglas Browning Schohr

Friday

Dec 14, 2012 at 11:38 AMDec 14, 2012 at 11:40 AM

Full of years and loving family, Douglas Browning Schohr, 83, of Gridley, California, entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 7, 2012. Doug, the son of farming pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Max Paul and Elna (Browning) Schohr, was born in Woodland, California, on June 19, 1929.Growing up, Doug attended grammar school at Grand Island (Grimes), California, followed by Catholic school. in Colusa, California. Begrudgingly, Doug attended the Tamalpias School for Boys in San Rafael, California where he graduated in 1948. Doug attended the University of California, Davis where he studied Agriculture. Doug fell for the love of his life, Alma “Jean” Bachels, after a bear hunting trip to Plumas County was canceled, requiring an overnight stay at the McKenzie Guest Ranch; which Jean, together with her family, owned and operated near Graeagle, California. The pair had met once previously in 1945, but rekindled love took hold in 1949. Jean says he still ended up with a bear, and the two were married on January 20, 1951. Doug and Jean “strolled the lane together, laughed in the rain together, and both knew then that it would never end.” They celebrated their love over 61 years of marriage.Doug was drafted into the United States Army on November 24, 1950, entering service in Sacramento, California. His duties took him to Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and then into combat in Korea, where he was awarded with the Korean Service Medal for his duties in the 6th Infantry Division. Upon his discharge from the Army on August 25, 1952, Doug returned home to Gridley to continue with family farming alongside his mother Elna at the Schohr Ranch west of Gridley. Crops grown at the ranch over the years included: wheat, corn, milo, safflower, wild rice, with the largest crop now being medium grain rice. Livestock raised at the ranch include: Quarter horses, commercial beef cattle, as well as registered Hereford cattle. In 2011, Doug, his family, and the Schohr Ranch were inducted into the California Agricultural Heritage Club, and recognized for their legacy of 150 years of continuous family farming in California. That same year, Doug was pleased to celebrate the farm’s 100th rice crop; his Grandfather, J.W. Browning, being the first to commercially plant the crop in the region.Hobbies included duck, goose, pheasant, and deer hunting over the years. He enjoyed square dancing in the Gridley club with many friends and enjoyed spending time in the mountains of Northern California. In later years, his most cherished travels and memories were spent with his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren traveling and participating in their activities. His most favorite trip of all, was taking grandchildren to Disneyland once they learned to spell (or memorize) “Mickey Mouse.”Doug was a member and supporter of the Ben Ali Shrine of Sacramento, and the Gridley Moose Lodge. He was a 3rd Degree Master Mason of Gridley’s North Butte Lodge #230, the Gridley Little League, a member of the Gridley Roping Club, a member of the California Butte County Farm Bureau, the California Cattlemen’s Association, and the American Hereford Association.His legacy continues to live on through his family. His wife and family matriarch, Jean, continues on at the ranch west of Gridley. Doug and Jean’s son Carl and his wife Susan (Orme) of Gridley; son Jim, of Gridley; and son Bill and his wife Lisa (Butler), of Gridley. Grandchildren include Ryan Schohr and his wife Holly (Whittaker), of Chico; Steven Schohr, of Gridley, Jamie and husband Mark Owens, of Eagle, Idaho, Tracy Schohr, of Gridley; Lee Schohr, of Star, Idaho; Tayler Schohr, of Gridley, and Justin Schohr, of Gridley. Great-grandchildren include Kylee and Makenzie Owens, and Joseph Schohr. A memorial service followed by a celebratory lunch for the many family and friends is planned for 11 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2012 at the Gridley Moose Lodge, 1533 State Highway 99 in Gridley. In Doug’s honor, and in lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions be made to The Shriner’s Hospital for Children, or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Douglas Browning Schohr

Full of years and loving family, Douglas Browning Schohr, 83, of Gridley, California, entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 7, 2012.

Doug, the son of farming pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Max Paul and Elna (Browning) Schohr, was born in Woodland, California, on June 19, 1929.

Growing up, Doug attended grammar school at Grand Island (Grimes), California, followed by Catholic school. in Colusa, California. Begrudgingly, Doug attended the Tamalpias School for Boys in San Rafael, California where he graduated in 1948. Doug attended the University of California, Davis where he studied Agriculture.

Doug fell for the love of his life, Alma “Jean” Bachels, after a bear hunting trip to Plumas County was canceled, requiring an overnight stay at the McKenzie Guest Ranch; which Jean, together with her family, owned and operated near Graeagle, California. The pair had met once previously in 1945, but rekindled love took hold in 1949. Jean says he still ended up with a bear, and the two were married on January 20, 1951. Doug and Jean “strolled the lane together, laughed in the rain together, and both knew then that it would never end.” They celebrated their love over 61 years of marriage.

Doug was drafted into the United States Army on November 24, 1950, entering service in Sacramento, California. His duties took him to Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and then into combat in Korea, where he was awarded with the Korean Service Medal for his duties in the 6th Infantry Division.

Upon his discharge from the Army on August 25, 1952, Doug returned home to Gridley to continue with family farming alongside his mother Elna at the Schohr Ranch west of Gridley. Crops grown at the ranch over the years included: wheat, corn, milo, safflower, wild rice, with the largest crop now being medium grain rice. Livestock raised at the ranch include: Quarter horses, commercial beef cattle, as well as registered Hereford cattle.

In 2011, Doug, his family, and the Schohr Ranch were inducted into the California Agricultural Heritage Club, and recognized for their legacy of 150 years of continuous family farming in California. That same year, Doug was pleased to celebrate the farm’s 100th rice crop; his Grandfather, J.W. Browning, being the first to commercially plant the crop in the region.

Hobbies included duck, goose, pheasant, and deer hunting over the years. He enjoyed square dancing in the Gridley club with many friends and enjoyed spending time in the mountains of Northern California. In later years, his most cherished travels and memories were spent with his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren traveling and participating in their activities. His most favorite trip of all, was taking grandchildren to Disneyland once they learned to spell (or memorize) “Mickey Mouse.”

Doug was a member and supporter of the Ben Ali Shrine of Sacramento, and the Gridley Moose Lodge. He was a 3rd Degree Master Mason of Gridley’s North Butte Lodge #230, the Gridley Little League, a member of the Gridley Roping Club, a member of the California Butte County Farm Bureau, the California Cattlemen’s Association, and the American Hereford Association.

His legacy continues to live on through his family. His wife and family matriarch, Jean, continues on at the ranch west of Gridley. Doug and Jean’s son Carl and his wife Susan (Orme) of Gridley; son Jim, of Gridley; and son Bill and his wife Lisa (Butler), of Gridley. Grandchildren include Ryan Schohr and his wife Holly (Whittaker), of Chico; Steven Schohr, of Gridley, Jamie and husband Mark Owens, of Eagle, Idaho, Tracy Schohr, of Gridley; Lee Schohr, of Star, Idaho; Tayler Schohr, of Gridley, and Justin Schohr, of Gridley. Great-grandchildren include Kylee and Makenzie Owens, and Joseph Schohr.

A memorial service followed by a celebratory lunch for the many family and friends is planned for 11 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2012 at the Gridley Moose Lodge, 1533 State Highway 99 in Gridley.

In Doug’s honor, and in lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions be made to The Shriner’s Hospital for Children, or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.